diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING b/CONTRIBUTING
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ca5453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+When contributing your first changes, please include an empty commit for
+copyright waiver using the following message (replace 'John Doe' with
+your name or nickname):
+
+  John Doe Copyright Waiver
+
+  I dedicate any and all copyright interest in this software to the
+  public domain.  I make this dedication for the benefit of the public at
+  large and to the detriment of my heirs and successors.  I intend this
+  dedication to be an overt act of relinquishment in perpetuity of all
+  present and future rights to this software under copyright law.
+
+The command to create an empty commit from the command-line is:
+
+  git commit --allow-empty